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Tuesday, 28 February 2017

February always passes by so quickly. This month I was poorly quite a lot so we haven't done too much as a family. The weather was also very wet but we have had some lovely lazy days at home, which are always needed!

Paige had half term but Mark still had to work so we didn't get any extra time together as a family which was a shame. I am very much looking forward to March as we have an exciting trip planned as a family which I can't wait for. This months picture was taken on a trip to the park. Its quite hard to get all five of us in a selfie!!

I also need to start planning Paiges birthday. I have no idea what to do. Help!Nicola Xx

Monday, 27 February 2017

I almost forgot o do this months mummy and me post. February always speeds by as its a super short month. Its flown by! Harleigh is now 3 months old.

This month we've had half term for Paige, Parker still goes to nursery in the holidays but only 3 mornings. It was lovely to have Paige at home but we were so busy that I never got anything done. We haven't really much else during February as I've been poorly twice.

In March we have a very exciting trip planned and I can't wait!!Nicola Xx

Wednesday, 22 February 2017

My little sausage is three months old already. I can't believe it. It's flown. She is already 1 quarter of a year old.

She is growing and changing every single day. She is so alert and wants to look at everything. She is super smiley and will do little high pitched giggles which is the cutest thing ever. She loves Paige and Parker and they often get the biggest smiles. She is starting to try roll over and has started hitting toys.

She is mostly still in 0-3 months clothes but does wear 3-6 months sometimes. Her 0-3m sleepsuits are starting to get a little tight. She is in size 2 nappies and just about to move up to size 3. She is still have 5oz bottles every 3 hours. She also has about 4 naps a day ranging from 20 minutes to a couple of hours. At the beginning of February she weighed 12lb.

Her night time sleep was wonderful then we hit a development leap and a growth spurt. She was doing 10 straight hours but now is very hit and miss. Sometimes she will do 4 hours followed by every 2 and sometimes she will do 6-8 hours followed by 1-2 hours.

Her eyes look like they are getting lighter and it makes me wonder if she will have eyes the same colour as Mark, which is a greyish sort of colour. Her cradle cap is getting better but we think she might have eczema like Paige did. She had a bald spot on the back of her head but that is starting to grow back already!Nicola Xx

Monday, 20 February 2017

One of my top items for a new baby is always a swing. A comfortable place to pop your baby down and somewhere that the majority of the time they are happy to be whether awake or asleep.

With Paige and Parker we had the same swing but then lost it somehow so when I got with Harleigh I started the hunt for a new one. I came across the amazing Joie Serina 2in1 Swing.

This swing is pretty cool. It actually swings two different ways. All you have to do is simply twist the seat to the side and it will then swing front to back instead of side to side. This feature in my eyes is genius. It means that whichever way your baby like to swing they will love the Serina 2in1. Harleigh really likes swinging from side to side but my friends baby loves front to back. They can both enjoy the swing. There are also six different speed settings which is great. Harleigh likes to be on 4 right now but when she was a newborn we used to put it on the first one. The controls are really simple and easy to use.

Another great feature is the 2in1 aspect. The swing is actually a swing and a rocker. You simply click the button and off the seat comes. This makes is super easy to take baby into a different room with you but still keep then comfy and calm in there seat. It also means that if they are sleeping you don't have to wake them, you simply take them into another room with you.

There are also 3 position settings for the seat making it extra comfy for baby and means that when they are that little bit older they can look around a little easier. Two soothing vibrations and 5 classical lullabies and 5 nature sounds also help comfort baby. Harleigh prefers the higher vibration setting and the bird sounds. To use the vibration setting the rocker part does need batteries but the swing itself can be used with a plug or batteries. We use the plug and its so nice to just plug it in and have it ready, I imagine that running out of batteries would be a nightmare.

The swing itself isn't overly big, there are much bigger ones out there. It is a decent size though with plenty of room for baby to grow and will hold a baby up to 13kgs but I find it quite heavy. There are two wheels on the back to help you wheel it around if needed which is super handy. We went for quite a neutral print and I love the look of the swing and think it looks lovely in our living room. The swing doesn't fold up so if you need to take it down you have to take it apart.

There is also a nightlight setting with four brightness settings. We don't really use this now as Harleigh only uses the swing when its light but when she was younger it was a nice option during the evening when the bigger children went to bed.

The seat itself is very padded and looks very comfy. Harleigh always seems comfortable. There is a removable body support which is washable. A must have with a newborn. Its great to be able to remove and wash. There is also a 5-point harness to keep baby nice and secure. It has a soft cover over it to give baby that little extra comfort.

The overhead toy bar is the only thing that I don't love. I wish the toys were a little more interesting rather than just soft toys. I find that Harleigh gets a little bored looking at them but the good thing is that there is room to add extra toys on if you want.Overall we love the Serina 2in1 swing. I honestly wouldn't want to use another swing now.

Do you think a swing is an essential baby item?Nicola Xx *Disclaimer - We were sent the product for the purpose of this review but all views and opinions are my own*

Friday, 17 February 2017

The UK’s Biggest Baby & Toddler Show is returning to EventCity, Manchester from 10-12 March The Baby & Toddler Show, supported by Emma’s Diary, returns to the North West this March and with it comes all the shopping and expert advice new and expectant parents need to give their baby the best start in life. The largest event of its kind in the North West, The Baby & Toddler Show has an amazing line-up of big name brands, unique innovative products, local companies and services and experts who are ready to give you a helping hand in parenthood. This exciting time in a parent’s life has been all wrapped up at the show so you can enjoy all this..* Save money with unbeatable deals on top brands and baby essentials - 100s of unique and useful products which you won’t find on the high street * Guaranteed best prices on car seats, prams, buggies and furniture – find all the big name brands in one place including Bugaboo, Britax, Mamas & Papas, Maxi-Cosi, Quinny, Silver Cross, Cosatto, Bloom, Cybex, Joolz and many more.* Over 150+ top brands and products to test, try, compare and buy - meet knowledgeable experts and have hands-on demos to find the right products for you * Hear from expert speakers giving new parents everything they need to know on sleeping, feeding, budgeting, first aid and more Visiting is easy and stress-free – EventCity is really easy to get to, there is free parking, easy access for bumps and babies, and a huge Vital Baby Feeding Area and Baby Changing Area. Find everything you need in one place and try, test and compare products and get demonstrations from knowledgeable experts so that you get the right products for you including… Car seats & carriers • Prams • Buggies & travel systems • Cots, beds & furniture High chairs & feeding products • Toys • Baby and toddler safety products • Bouncers & walkers Nappies & changing products • Baby & toddler clothing • Weaning products • Maternity clothing & products • Bedding & blankets • Bathing products • Pushchair accessories • Maternity lingerie Bedding & mattresses • Reusable nappies • Playpens • Monitors • Mobiles • Playmats Plus – all mums-to-be and new mums will receive a goody bag which includes lots of branded products such as nappies, cream, wipes, cosmetics and more! Visit the website www.babyandtoddlershow.co.uk to find out more information and to see the Enter the competition below for your chance to win two tickets or use code BM16 for 1/3rd off.Good luck!Nicola Xx

Wednesday, 15 February 2017

Another month with the three monsters! I'm never a fan of February and it seems the kids aren't either. They've had a pretty rough month, we all have. Rubbish weather, sickness and just general grumpiness. People waking at night, injections and not wanting to go to school.

One amazing thing this month is that they've grown even closer and interact so much more together. Its the most amazing thing to watch. Harleigh is all smiles for both Paige and Parker and loves to just stare at them and watch them. She is so close to giggling and they love trying to make her. They are still the best big brother and sister. I am so proud of them both. I can't wait to watch them grow up together.

Some last minute pictures saved me again, I'm rubbish at getting pictures of them all together. I usually get them in pairs but never all three! I must try harder but I have found myself reaching for my big camera when I do take pictures of them so that's lovely.

Our three little monsters, terrors and perfection all at the same time.Nicola Xx

Friday, 10 February 2017

You may have realised that I've been a little quiet this week. We've had a bit of a rough week.

First off I got tonsillitis. I am currently on antibiotics and feel a little bit better so that is something. The day I got my antibiotics Harleigh was due to have her 12 week injections. After her 8 week ones she slept a lot. She had a horrible temperature for about 36 hours and had to have four doses of calpol, thanks to the men b injection. Apparently a fever is very common after that one. Safe to say I'm dreading the 16 week ones when she has it again. But her 12 week ones went really well. She cried for about 20 seconds and was then fine. We had a little walk back home and she fell asleep in her pram. She hasn't had a temperature this time and is doing well.

I've written off this week as a sick week. I haven't done much apart from rest and look after the kiddos. My antibiotics are making me a little nauseous (just what I need after suffering with HG for 9 months), they are also making me a bit sleepy which isn't much fun with three kids. That along with Harleigh not sleeping too great (thanks leap) and it's safe to say I'm exhausted but we are getting there.

I am very much looking forward to the weekend. To rest, friends and family time.

Next week Harleigh will turn 3 months old. I'm not ready at all! She is growing up far too quickly. Be on the lookout for her 3 months update, my postpartum update and a couple of reviews.

Tuesday, 7 February 2017

As you may know we formula feed Harleigh and she is doing so well. I am not against breast feeding infact I'm all for it but sometimes things don't work out and formula is there if you need it which is amazing. When formula feeding you do need a few more items to help you on your journey, bottles and a steriliser are essential pieces of equipment. There so many to pick from it can be hard to know which to get and what brand to go with.

We were recently sent the Nuby Natural Touch Steriliser and Dryer to review. We've tried a few different sterilisers in the past but I have never heard of one that dries the bottles too so I was very interested to test this one out. I wasn't quite sure how useful the drying feature would be. I thought it may be a waste, how wrong was I!The steriliser can hold up to five bottles and keeps them sterile for up to 24 hours if the lid remains unopened. This is perfect if you want to set it going right before bed so that the bottles are ready in the morning. It kills 99.9% of germs and does dry the bottles after sterilising them if you pick that cycle.

So, to use the steriliser you need 90ml of cold water in the bottom. You then place your bottles upside down with the lids on top. The next layer of the steriliser goes on and you place your teats and then the lid pops on.

Once the lid is on you simply select which cycle you want. There are three to pick from. The first is simply the steriliser function. This cycle takes 5 minutes and just sterilises the bottles. The second cycle sterilisers and quick dries the bottles. The sterilisation again takes just 5 minutes and the drying takes 15 minutes. The last cycle sterilisers the bottles and super dries them. This again takes 5 minutes for the sterilisation and 30 minutes for the drying.﻿

To select a cycle you simply press the button until the blue light is on your chosen cycle then hold the button down until it beeps and it will start.

If we are in a hurry then I use the sterilisation cycle on its own but usually we use cycle two. It gets the bottles clean and dries them really well. I haven't found the need to use cycle three and have them super dry. Cycle two does a great job at getting them dry enough. Before I was so used to bottles having the condensation inside that I wondered if I would use the dryer function at all but I love it. It is so convenient. Now I don't think I would be without the dryer function. As it dries the bottles it does make some noise which is to be expected but you soon get used to it. I love the look of the steriliser. It fits in with all our other kitchen appliances and looks great sat on the countertop. It isn't huge so doesn't take up loads of room either. It is quite tall but that just means that a whole range of bottles can fit inside which is amazing.Overall we love the Nuby Natural Touch Steriliser and Dryer. We wouldn't be without it now and recommend it for everyone. It makes sterilising and drying bottles easy, fast and really convenient. Would you ever tried a steriliser and dryer in one?Nicola Xx

*Disclaimer - we were sent the above item for the purpose of this review but all views and opinions are my own*

Thursday, 2 February 2017

Since January I've really tried to start getting fitter, not just to lose the extra baby weight but to also feel better and be healthier. I wanted to do a little update each month as a recap on how I'm getting on, what I'm doing and what I'm using to help.

So in January I started off working out and watching what I ate. I wasn't super healthy but cut out crisps, chocolate, takeaways etc. Although if I fancied something I didn't deprive myself because life is too short! I then stopped working out as I wasn't really seeing much change so decided to focus on my eating and aiming for 10,000 steps a day. I got a new Fitbit Charge 2 on the last weekend in January so that is helping me track steps. I also tried to up my water intake to 2.2l.

So how did I do?I managed to lose 4lbs in weight, 1 inch from my waist, 1.75 inch from around my belly button, 1.5 inch from my hips and 0.5 inch from each thigh. Another achievement this month is that I can now fit into some pre pregnancy jeggings, not quite jeans but I will get there.

I am quite happy with my progress throughout January and I'm keen to get February started. My goals for this month are* Drink more water - I need to get more consistent* Workout 3/4 times a week. I was doing 6 times a week but that was pretty full on*Aim for 9-10k steps each day*Start running - maybe! I'm a little scared but want to give it a go.Wish me luck!Nicola Xx

Wednesday, 1 February 2017

Harleigh loves nothing more than having a cuddle, most newborns are the same. Sometimes you have to put them down, especially when you have multiple children to also look after and a house to clean. I do have a wrap and love it but sometimes I don't want to have to wear Harleigh all the time.

The Bambeano Baby beanbag is the perfect place to pop baby down for a while when you need a safe place. It is essentially just as it sounds, a beanbag for a baby. It is available in three different colours, pink, blue and natural. It also has a cute star pattern that features on all of the colours. The Bambeano has a 100% cotton cover, this means it is soft on precious baby skin and easy to clean. A must when you have a baby. It also has a foam insert which makes the beanbag super comfortable and supported for baby. The expanded polystyrene beads also help create a lovely soft beanbag for baby to sit. You may be worrying about small beads around a baby but there is no need. Between baby and the inner beads there are three layers of safety zips to keep everyone nice and safe. There is a padded harness and safety clips to ensure that baby is secure at all times.

We've used our Bambeano from birth and Harleigh has liked it. I do find that sometimes she won't settle on it as well as a swing for instance, sometimes babies just need movement and the Bambeano can't provide that. Paige and Parker love having her sat on the Bambeano too as they can interact with her more and show her toys and she loves watching them play games around her. I love the position on the seat, it isn't completely laid down so Harleigh can still join in and watch what is going on.

The Bambeano is a great size so will last until baby is a toddler. It isn't huge enough that it takes up half the living room though! It also looks nice and fits in with normal home décor.

Would you ever consider buying a baby beanbag?

Nicola Xx

*Disclaimer - We were sent the above item for the purpose of this review but all views and opinions are my own*